Oct 25, 2012

National Dessert Month - Part 3: Fruitfully Delicious

Who says that eating fruit has to be boring? Part 3 of our National Dessert Month celebration continues our list of America's Top 10 Favorite Desserts with our country's most beloved fruit desserts, accompanied by recipes from our brand new cookbook, Guilty Pleasures.7. Apple
Pie

Apple pie is a widely-acknowledged American
icon, embodied in the expression “as American as apple pie.” However, this
succulent pastry originated amongst the Europeans some centuries before it
appeared in the New World. Recipes for apple pie in England can be traced all
the way back to the 14th century. Dutch apple pie can also be traced
back to 17th century Holland.

European settlers brought their love of
pies with them to the New World. Various fruit pies were immensely popular
amongst the colonists, and records indicate that the apple pie was a popular
treat in Delaware and Pennsylvania in the late 18th century. In the
20th century, apple pie became a symbol of American pride and
prosperity, likely resulting from the pastry’s enduring prominence.

Today, quite a few variations of apple pie
are available to tantalize our taste buds, but we are somewhat partial to the
Southern fried version. Our recipe for “Fried Apple Pies” is sure to make your
mouth water!

8. Cobbler

Perhaps the saying “American as apple pie”
should be altered to say “American as fruit cobbler,” because this classic
dessert is as thoroughly all-American as any dish could ever hope to be!

The cobbler’s origins begin with the dawn
of American history in the British colonies. The early settlers were unable to
make their traditional suet puddings due to a lack of ingredients and cooking
tools, so they created a dish involving a stewed filling topped with biscuits
or dumplings. This new dish acquired the name “cobbler” due to the top crust
resembling a cobbled street.

While the original cobblers were prepared in
both sweet and savory varieties, the dish finally became primarily a dessert in
the 19th century. Today, there are many variants of the traditional
cobbler (fruit filling topped with a thick crust), such as a fruit crumble or a
brown betty. Admittedly, we’re rather partial to our recipe for “My Favorite Peach Cobbler,” which is sure to become a favorite of yours as well!